Nicole Helm - Wyoming Cowboy Ranger

“Hmm,” she replied, pulling the case over the scanner. Jim had been making this particular offer since she’d turned twenty. Since he made it to just about every female who’d ever worked in Delaney General, she didn’t take it personally. “Some other night, Jim. Got my nose to the grindstone here.”

He handed over a wad of wrinkled bills and tutted while she made change. “Young pretty thing shouldn’t work so hard.”

“And a nice man like you shouldn’t drink his dinner.” She handed him his change and he hefted the case off the counter.

“Yeah, yeah,” he grumbled, offering a half-hearted goodbye as he pushed open the door and stepped out. Just a few seconds later the bell on the door tinkled again and someone stepped inside.

She didn’t recognize this customer. He wore his cowboy hat low, obscuring most of his face. Still, she could usually recognize her regulars by size, clothes, posture and so on. This was a stranger.

She remembered Ty’s words from earlier and an icy dread skittered up her spine, but she smiled. “Good evening.”

“Evening,” the man returned, a pleasant smile of his own. She couldn’t see his eyes, but his smile wasn’t off-putting. He was wearing what appeared to be hiking gear and had a fancy-looking camera hanging from his neck. “I don’t suppose you carry film?” He lifted the camera and his smile turned sheepish.

“Afraid not.”

He sighed. “Didn’t expect to use so much. You’ve got a fascinating town here, ma’am.”

“We like to think so.” She kept her smile in place. The man was perfectly polite. No different from any other stranger who walked into her store looking for provisions of any kind.

Her palms were sweaty, though, and her heart beat too hard. It was only her and him in the store right now, and Ty had warned her about strangers.

And you’re going to trust Ty Carson on anything? No. No, she wasn’t, but... Well, there’d been too much trouble lately not to heed his warning. So, she’d be smart. Do what her deputy sister would do in this situation: pay attention to details. The man was tall, maybe around her brother Cam’s height. But not broad. He had narrow shoulders, though the way he walked exuded a kind of strength. Like a runner, she supposed. Slim, but athletic. She couldn’t determine the exact shade of his hair because of the way the hat was positioned and the way he was angled away from her, but it wasn’t dark hair.

“I don’t have film, but I’ve got food and drinks or anything else you might need.” She smiled at him, but he still didn’t look her way. He examined the store.

“Actually I stopped because I was wondering if you’d mind if I took a few pictures of your store.”

“I thought you were out of film.”

“I am, which is a shame. But I use my phone for pictures, too. I was using film out here because the ambiance seemed to call for it. I was over at the saloon. I hear the swinging doors are original.”

“So they claim,” Jen muttered, irritably thinking of Ty.

“Amazing.” He meandered over to a row of candy, studied the offerings. “I took way too many pictures. And the boardwalks. The signs. It’s like stepping back in time. I’ve been mostly sticking to ghost towns but the mix of past and present here... It’s irresistible.”

“So you were out at Cain, then?” she asked, referencing a popular ghost town destination for photographers and adventurers.

He nodded, still keeping his head tilted away from her. “That’s what brought me out this way.”

“From where?”

He chuckled. “You ask every stranger where they’re from?”

She had to work to keep the pleasant smile on her face. She couldn’t blow this. “Tend to. We don’t get many outsiders.”

“Ah. Outsiders. Must be nice to live in a community that protects itself against outsiders. You’d feel...safe. Protected and cared for.”

She hadn’t felt particularly safe after the craziness of the past year, but she decided to agree anyway. “Very.”

He swayed on his feet, trying to brace himself on the shelf and upending some candy before he fell backward onto the floor.

Stunned, Jen rushed forward, but he was already struggling to sit up.

“I’m all right,” he said, holding out a hand to keep her back. “Just haven’t eaten since breakfast. Got caught up, and I suppose the lack of food caught up with me. I’ll be all right.”

She grabbed one of the candy bars that had fallen to the ground and ripped it open before she handed it to him. She didn’t think he’d gotten caught up. She was starting to think he didn’t have any money. She almost felt sorry for him. “Here. Don’t worry about paying for it. Just eat.”

He took the candy, and then a bite. “You’re too kind.” He looked up for a second.

Blue eyes. A vibrant blue. Blond hair, wispy and nearly white really. Not with age, just a very, very light shade of blond. His nose was crooked. To the left.

“Didn’t expect to run across someone so young and pretty in a tiny little Wyoming town.”

“Uh—”

“Sorry.” He looked back down at the candy bar, the brim of his hat hiding everything again. “That’s awkward and uncomfortable. Let’s blame it on the lack of food. Do you think I could trouble you for a small sip of water?”

Jen jumped to her feet and hurried for the cooler that boasted rows of water bottles. She grabbed one of the larger ones and twisted it open. “Here,” she said, returning to his side. “You just take this.”

He took a sip and then nodded, using the back of his arm to wipe the water droplets off his mouth. He kept his head down.

Was it purposeful? Was he trying to make sure she couldn’t identify him? Was he planning something awful? But she’d seen his eyes and the color of his hair—she only had to remember the details.

He took another bite of the candy bar, then a drink of the water. She racked her brain trying to figure out what to do. How to defend herself if he lunged at her. This could all be an act. A ploy. Weaken her defenses, catch her off guard.

Carefully, Jen leaned slightly away and got to her feet, keeping her eyes on him and her body tense and ready to react.

“Thank you for the kindness,” he said, sounding exhausted. But it could be acting. “I should be out of your way.” He struggled to his feet, swayed again, but righted himself.

He seemed so genuinely thankful and feeble. The man was a mess, and maybe he was Ty’s threatening stranger, but he wasn’t doing anything to put her in danger at the moment.

And why would he? He was probably just after Ty. How could she blame anyone on that front?

“Can I get you anything else? Maybe a sandwich? A bag of chips?” His clear weakness ate at her. A man shouldn’t go hungry. Though, she supposed, he could sell that nice camera if he was really that bad off.

“No. No, I’ll be fine.” He kept his head tilted away, but the corner of his smile was soft and kind as he lifted the water bottle in salute. “I appreciate it, ma’am. Your kindness won’t be forgotten.” And with that, he walked out of the store. No trouble. No danger.

Leaving Jen unsure about what to do.

* * *

TY DIDN’T OFTEN find himself uncomfortable. He’d learned early to roll with whatever punches life threw at him. There’d been quite a few.

But nothing could have prepared him for a baby shower. A Carson-Delaney baby shower. Laurel and Vanessa were laughing over their baby bumps, pastel pink and blue decorations everywhere, and Carsons and Delaneys mingled like there’d never been a feud.

Jen was in a corner talking to Addie and Noah, Addie’s toddler trying to crawl up Noah and laughing hysterically when he fell. Noah watched with the patience of a happy man.